Humane Society is making progress

The St. Augustine Humane Society is on track for reopening its animal adoption shelter at some future date but at least it has a presence back at its Old Moultrie Road headquarters.

It's been a tumultuous three years with loss of a $300,000-plus annual county contract that had boosted its operation for decades and helped overcome dwindling private donations. That was coupled with more people giving up their pets in the wake of the nation's declining economy, complaints about the shelter facilities, such as the kennels and the cat areas being in poor physical condition, and indifference of its then-director and some staff members toward the public and the volunteers. In addition, competition for animal adoptions from area no-kill shelters hurt the Humane Society's efforts. The board was forced to make a tough decision two years ago: Shut down the shelter with the hope of reopening in the future.

The Humane Society is not receiving animals or providing any for adoptions yet and its timetable is indefinite, said Board President Rusty Hall said. But it has opened up to offer educational services three days a week on site for reasonable fees, a low-cost spay/neuter program that takes cats and dogs to a clinic in Jacksonville aboard the Spay Shuttle, and humane education information. Its next priority is opening a pet food bank for owners unable to buy pet food, Hall said. A food bank for pets is innovative and needed.

Quite frankly, we did not expect the Humane Society to reopen in any form. Not only because the facilities were in dire shape as a Record investigation showed in 2007, but also because the volunteer squabbles with the then-director and some staff were affecting community goodwill.

Returning to a full-service shelter is still the goal depending on how the community steps up to help. With the county operating its own Pet Center, there is no need to contract with anyone else for housing animals picked up by the county's animal welfare operation. We're not sure how many nonprofits could take the annual six-figure hit the Humane Society did and still meet community needs.

Board President Hall says the board never stopped meeting even after the shelter shut down. It has added new members who share the continuing board members' support and enthusiasm. The Humane Society could use some more volunteers and donations. Fundraisers are being planned.

Hall has hope that the Humane Society's progress reestablishing itself will boost community support.

Last fall, in a Record editorial we welcomed back the St. Augustine Humane Society. We commend the society for its efforts so far and look forward to the day when an animal shelter/adoption center is possible again.

For information:

The St. Augustine Humane Society is open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Call 829-2737, email info@staughumane.org, go to www.staughumane.org, or stop be the office at 1665 Old Moultrie Road.